The Voice of the Martyrs' blog, sharing powerful stories and timely information that invites and inspires American Christians into fellowship with their persecuted family around the world.

May 31, 2011

Christian Man Given Five Years in Prison for Sharing Faith

Algeria is one of The Voice of the Martyrs restricted nations, will approximately 97% of the population Muslim and a tiny .29% Christian, so when I see a story like the one mentioned today at The Christian Post, concerning a Christian man being sentenced to five years in prison for sharing his Christian faith, I'm not surprised.

The Christian Post is reporting the following:

A Christian man has been sentenced to five years in prison for sharing his faith with his neighbor. According to International Christian Concern, Siagh Krimo was given the sentence last week in Djamel District, Oran, Algeria.

Prosecutors quickly charged Krimo of proselytizing after his neighbor made a complaint, and accused him of making defamatory statements against the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Krimo was sentenced under Article 144 bis 2 of the Algerian Penal Code which makes it a criminal offence to "insult the prophet" or "denigrate the creed and precepts of Islam."

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said: "Algerian Christians have been under attack in recent weeks as laws have been increasingly enforced to discriminate against them.

Please keep Krimo in your prayers, as well as the other brave Christians who are living their faith out in a country that is hostile to them. Thank you.